Steel side rail for wood beds



March 17, 1953 E. F. HOOKER 2,631,305

STEEL SIDE RAIL FOR WOOD BEDS Filed Aug. 25, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Emerson E Hooker INVENTOR.

BY m

March 17, 1953 E. F. HOOKER 2,631,305

STEEL SIDE RAIL FOR woon BEDS Filed Aug. 25. 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Kim ill i Emerson Hooker INVENTOR.

BY aadpywq 3% Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a steel side rail for wood beds and more specifically pertains to a bed rail combining the known advantages of an all steel construction with the popular and pleasing esthetic appearance of a Wooden bed rail.

It has long been well known to the manufacturers and retailers of beds as well as to the public in general that a steel bed rail possesses greatly superior characteristics as compared to a wooden bed rail in its rigidity and freedom from warping, its longer life with substantially complete freedom from the danger of breakage, as well as its lightness in weight. However, it is also well known that the public in general prefers the artistic and esthetic appearance of a wooden bed rail to the appearance of a steel bed rail.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a bed rail combining all of the advantages of a steel bed rail and yet simulating the pleasing and popular appearance of a wooden bed rail.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved manner of attaching the bed fasts to the terminals of a steel bed rail and in reinforcing the attachment of the bed fasts thereto.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the head and foot boards of a wooden bed and having the improved steel bed rail attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the improved steel bed rail, parts being broken away;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the improved steel rail, taken substantially on the plane indicated .by the section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a further vertical transverse sectional view through the improved bed rail taken through the joining of the bed fasts thereto, substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 1 Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the improved bed rail, taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 1, portions being broken away;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional detail taken substantially upon the plane of the section line .66 of Figure 1 and illustrating the manner in which the bed fast of the improved rail is attached to the bed post.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals desigmate the several parts throughout the various views, but, attention is directed first to Figure 1 wherein it will be seen that the improved steel bed rail indicated generally by the numeral l0 shown attached to the :bed post of a head board and a foot board assembly indicated generally by the numerals l2 and I4. Since all of the bed posts of the bed construction may be of a conventional and similar design, the numeral I6 is employed to indicate the same.

Referring next to Figure 2, will be seen that the improved steel bed rail I0 consists of a longitudinally extending angle iron member [8, constituting a bottom rail of the bed rail, this bottom rail having secured thereto a sheet metal side rail 20 and in a suitable manner such as by spot welding or the like, the upper end of this side rail being rolled over to form a tubular flange or bead 22 at the upper end thereof, the bottom rail and side rail having securely attached to the terminals thereof in a manner to be subsequently set forth, bed fasts indicated generally by the numeral 24 which may be of any standard design, including longitudinally extending bracket members 26 having upper and lower hook portions 28 and 30 which are adapted to be received in sockets 32, see Figure 6, of the bed posts 16, each hook being adapted to rest upon a transverse receiving vpin 34, one of which is shown in Figure 6.

It should be here noted that the side rail 20 which is preferably formed of a light weight sheet metal, is intended to be secured to the outside surface of the angle iron bottom rail to thus present a flat surface on the exterior of the bed, this side rail being finished in any desired manner to simulate the grain, appearance, shape and finish of a wooden side rail.

While the basic principles of this invention consist as shown, in providing a sheet metal simulation of a wooden side rail to the angle iron bottom rail I8, and securing the simulated wooden side rail to both the bottom rail and the bed fasts, an additional and important feature of the invention further resides in the specific means by which these elements are associated in improved relation,

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, it will :be seen that the bottom rail [8 has a horizontally extending bottom flange, and upon the exterior 3 side of the bottom rail, that is on the outside of the bed, is provided with a vertically extending flange 36. The side rail 29 has its lower end inturned horizontally as at 38 underlying the horizontal flange of the bottom rail, and if desired, the same may be rigidly secured thereto by any desired fastenings including welding or the like.

As will be more apparent from Figures 2, 4 and 5, the bed fasts include flat, substantially rectangular plates 40 which extend transversely of the improved steel bed rail, the outer surfaces of these plates being adapted to abut against the vertical surfaces of the bed post l6 as will be apparent from Figures and 6. These plates 49 are vertically slotted to receive the bracket members 26 Whose hook portions 28 and 38 extend outwardly therefrom, these hook portions being integrally formed upon plate portions 42 which thus extend into the interior of the end portions of the bed rail. As will be apparent from Figures 3, i and 5 the plate portions 42 of the bed fast brackets are of the same thickness as the vertical flange 36 of the bottom rail I3, and rest upon the upper surface thereof in vertical alignment with this vertical flange. Suitable vertical reinforcing strips li are disposed to overlie the inner surfaces of the vertical flanges 36 and of the plates 42, on the opposite sides of the plate 32 from the side rail 29 as is clearly apparent from Figure 4. Suitable fasteners of any desired type, such as the rivets 48, serve to rigidly attach the reinforcing plate 49, the vertical flange 3 B of the bottom rail and the plate 42 of the bed fasts with the ends of the side rail 28 to form a rigid assembly.

It will thus be seen that the extremities of the improved side rail are greatly reinforced to render the ends thereof more rigid, sturdier, and thus better able to resist the strains, side thrusts and wear imposed upon the detachable connections for securing the bed rail to the bed posts. Moreover, it will be seen that the bed fasts are thus simply, but effectively reinforced and secured to the side rails and to the bottom rails of the improved bed rail.

As set forth hereinbefore, the side rail of the steel rail simulating a wooden bed rail may conveniently be formed of sheet metal. However, it is to be clearly understood that the principles of the invention properly include various other materials such as suitable plastics, and even wooden handles or facings to be attached to and cover the exterior surface of the angle iron rail member l8.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation, together with the advantages of the invention will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A bed rail comprising an angle iron bottom rail, bed fasts secured to the ends of said angle iron bottom rail and a sheet metal side panel secured to said bottom rail and bed fasts and simulating a wooden bed side rail, said side rail having its upper edge rolled over to form a tubular bead.

2. A bed rail comprising an angle iron bottom rail, bed fasts secured to the ends of said angle iron bottom rail and a sheet metal side panel secured to said bottom rail and bed fasts in faceto-face contact and simulating a wooden bed side rail, said side rail having its upper edge rolled over to form a tubular bead, and its lower edge bent horizontally and secured to the undersurface of said bottom rail.

3. A bed rail consisting of an angle iron bottom rail having a vertical flange, a sheet metal side rail adapted to be secured to the exterior surface of said vertical flange, a bed fast having a portion extending longitudinally of said angle iron 1 bottom rail, and fastening means rigidly uniting said portion, said vertical flange and said side rail.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said portion rests upon the upper surface of said flange.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said portion rests upon the upper surface of said flange, said side rail being attached to both said vertical flange and to said portion.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said portion rests upon the upper surface of said flange, said side rail being attached to both said vertical flange and to said portion, and a reinforcing mein ber secured to the opposite sides of said vertical flange and portion from the sides engaged by said side rail.

7. The combination of claim 3 wherein said portion rests upon the upper surface of said flange, said side rail being attached to both said vertical flange and to said portion, and a reinforcing member secured to the opposite sides of said vertical flange and portion from the sides engaged by said side rail, said portion being of the same thickness as the vertical flange.

8. The combination of claim 3 wherein said fastening means includes a reinforcing plate disposed upon the opposite sides of said vertical flange and said portion, from the side engaged by the side rail. I v

9. The combination'of claim 3 wherein said fastening means includes a reinforcing plate disposed upon the opposite sides of said vertical flange and said portion, from the side engaged by the side rail, said portion resting upon the upper surface of said vertical flange.

10. The combination of claim 3 wherein said fastening means includes a reinforcing plate disposed upon the opposite sides of said vertical flange and said portion, from the side engaged by the side rail, said portion resting upon the upper surface of said vertical flange, and being of the same thickness.

EMERSON F. HOOKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,094,980 Cordle Apr. 28, 1914 1,717,363 Bayer June 18, 1929 

